PAGE 2
ES : So much is made of sibling rivalry, and yet you've all seemed to overcome it. How were you able to foster a positive environment between each other, one that encouraged each person to strive to be better, while at the same time supporting each other?

DL : People are always ask if we fight, and we do. Believe me. But I think if Mark and I didn't make the Olympic team, we knew there would have been nothing we could have done. We would have been right there cheering on our brother. If he wins, it's a win for all of us. We're unique in that each of us knows what the other has been through and sacrifices we've made to get here. We are very competitive, though. Whenever there's a game of Taboo or poker, watch out. There is no such thing as "friendly poker" with us. Blood pressures are going up, believe me. I think since martial arts is all about self-discipline and respect—we're cordial even when we fight each other—we do act like normal siblings in other areas.

ES : Throughout the book, each of you writes with such a sense of compassion about the other and this very innate sense of who each is, while at the same time no one is out on a pedestal. Did the sport help you all with that or was it something else?

DL : It was a combination of sport and family. My dad gave Jean authority with us, but Jean never abused it as our older brother. Even when it was rough for me with them, I knew they always wanted the best, and they never crossed the line. My dad had a great deal of sense about how he wanted to raise his family. No one is ever allowed to disrespect each other.

ES : What would you say is the secret of your relationship with each other?

DL : We're not big talkers, but if one of us senses something is wrong with another, or even if they're happy, we know each other well enough to know what to do. We can just look at each other and know what's going on. We don't have to speak. I think that's what has always successful in the ring. I can look at Jean when I'm in ring and I have a sense of relaxation, with just a nod.

ES : As you've all gotten older, how have your relationships changed?

DL : I knew growing up that we weren't going to be in the same house forever, that eventually they'd have to leave. [But] it was weird for me to see them have their own families. I was always the baby, and now my brothers have their own little guys running around. So now we get to see all these the different families forming from ours. It's beautiful.

ES : What advice would you give to someone looking to grow in her relationship with her siblings?

DL : It's all about communication. If you have a problem, you have to have those [TV] moments when you all get together in the end to have a talk. Speaking is part of every relationships, and you have to communicate your feelings. Never leave things out.


More from Relationships